No reason to put pie wrench on the shaft as it fits on the plastic of handle or ram. The handle on my pump does unscrew as well as the bottom piece. Both pieces have had glue on the threads. I have rebuilt many pumps. Personal choice for a lubricant is a thick cooking oil but this may eventually go rancid. I do open and clean pumps regularly, especially multiple user pumps where sand tends to get inside. I use wine bottle corks in the inflate deflate holes of my personal pump to keep out sand, this also helps reduce water entry when carrying the pump on a downwinder.